be hidden, so as to have a view of him without his seeing you; for my design is to delay the discovery till we return to Cairo, where I propose to regale you with very agreeable diversion.  He then left the ladies in their tent, and retired to his own, where he called for fifty of his men, and said to them, Take each of you a stick in your hands, and follow Schaban, who will conduct you to a pastry-cook’s in the city.  When you arrive there, break and dash in pieces all you find in the shop; if he asks you why you commit such disorder, only ask him again if it was not he who made the cream-tart that was brought from his house.  If he owns himself the man, seine his person, fetter him, and bring him along with you; but take care you do not beat him, nor do him the least harm.  Go, and lose no time.

The vizier’s orders were immediately executed.  The detachment, conducted by the black eunuch, went with expedition to Bedreddin’s house, and broke in pieces the plates, kettles, copper-pans, tables, and all the other moveables and utensils they met with, and drowned the sherbet-shop with creams and comfits.  Bedreddin, astonished at the sight, said, with a pitiful tone, Pray, good people, why do you serve me so?  What is the matter?  What have I done?  Was it not you, said they, who sold this eunuch the cream-tart?  Yes, replied he, I am the man, and who says any thing against it?  I defy any one to make a better.  Instead of giving him an answer, they continued to break all round them; even the oven was not spared.  The neighbours in the mean time took the alarm; and, surprised to see fifty armed men commit such a disorder, asked the reason of such violence.  Bedreddin said once more to the actors of it.  Pray, tell me what crime I am guilty of, to have deserved this usage?  Was it not you, replied they, who made the cream-tart you sold to the eunuch?  Yes, it was I, replied he; I maintain it is a good one, and I do not deserve the usage you give me.  However, without listening to him, they seized his person, and snatching the cloth off his turban, tied his hands with it behind his back; then dragging him by force out of his shop, they marched off with him.  The mob gathering, and taking compassion on Bedreddin, took his part, and offered opposition to Schemseddin’s men; but that very minute up came some officers from the governor of the city, who dispersed the people, and favoured the carrying off of Bedreddin; for Schemseddin had in the mean time gone to the governor’s house to acquaint him with the order he had given, and to demand the interposition of force to favour the execution.  The governor, who commanded all Syria in the name of the sultan of Egypt, was loath to refuse any thing to his master’s vizier; so that Bedreddin was carried off, notwithstanding his cries and tears.  It was needless for him to ask, by the way, those who forced him off, what fault had been found with his cream-tart, as they gave him no answer.  In short, they carried him to the tents, and detained him till Schemseddin returned from the governor of Damascus’s house.